When entering freshman year, everything is new and exciting. The possibilities are endless, and it is the first time in your life you can truly take initiative and be independent. Here are five pieces of advice to get the most out of your first year at UW!
- Get involved as early as you can. Whether it is physical exercise or social involvement, it is important to use this transition to grow as a student and human being. Doing this will help you feel not only more connected, but confident as well! During my first semester of college, I was not very active because I was so overwhelmed with all of the different clubs and activities, meeting new people and managing my time. In retrospect, I wish I would have joined more clubs and put myself out there more. During second semester, I was able to join a few clubs and meet new people, but I truly believe that I would have had a better first semester if I had been more active.
- Don’t skip class, seriously. I started off strong with my time management skills and attended class often, but, as time progressed, I decided to skip a class. At the end of the semester, I was frantically trying to catch up. As someone who was a straight A student, ending with a D in my math class was horrifying, and it was all because I decided to skip a few classes. It was a very rude awakening to realize that I need to take initiative for myself and my academics, because it is such a stark contrast from high school.
- The great Ferris Bueller once said, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” While this quote may have you rolling your eyes because of how often you have heard it, it is truly such a good reminder. When going into college and adjusting to my new life, I found myself feeling nostalgic of the past as well as wishing I was somewhere other than where I was in that certain moment. Even if you are just chilling in the dorm or out with your friends, soak all of it in the best you can, because time moves very fast, and you do not want to miss or waste any moment of it. Be satisfied, happy and proud of yourself wherever you are.
- Communicate with your roommates! No matter if they are random or your best friend of 10 years, it is always a good idea to ensure you are on the same page. I recommend setting up a list of ground rules, like chore delegation and their comfort level with guests. Roommates can be very fun, but it can also be a good learning experience, because you are sharing a space with someone that you may have never met before. Reach out to a house fellow if you ever have larger problems.
- Talk to professors and teaching assistants, and open emails. In doing so, you will be able to feel more on top of things and more comfortable with the course material. It is also important to communicate BEFORE the deadline, because it shows initiative. Even just a few hours makes all the difference. Introducing yourself after the first class or asking for help on a problem or question that confuses you can go a long way. I made sure to introduce myself to all of my professors and TAs and ask questions during lecture and discussions, and I truly believe this helped me succeed.
Overall, if you focus on your studies and having fun, the rest will fall into place and you will have a wonderful freshman year. If you ever feel like you are falling behind, don't worry because everyone is following their own path and doing different things. One of the best parts about attending college today is the plethora of resources available to you, including class Instagram pages for finding friends, using course search and enroll to build your schedule and looking through all of the clubs at UW-Madison.
Ellie Zgonc is a Sophomore studying finance. Do you agree that these pieces of advice can help Freshman students adapt to college? Send all comments to opinion@dailycardinal.com
